NEW DELHI: Captain Ben Stokes did not mince his words after England suffered an 82-run defeat to Australia in the third Test at Adelaide, resulting in a series loss in just 11 days. Stokes, however, pledged that England would return stronger and more consistent in the remaining two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

"This is going to hurt quite a bit," Stokes said. "Obviously that dream that we came here with is now over, which is obviously incredibly disappointing. But look, we've got two more (Tests) to go on and that's where the focus needs to switch to now."

Stokes pointed out that the main difference between the two teams was Australia's ability to execute consistently, a quality England struggled to match throughout the series.

Ashes over in just 11 days! Australia crush England again

"Australia have just been able to execute things on a way more consistent basis than us," he said. "Both with the ball and the bat, and in the field. They've been able to outdo us on a much higher level."

Stokes said he felt like his team were "on for another heist" in the morning session and was confident of achieving a record chase of 435. No team had scored more than West Indies' 418 (in a three-wicket win over Australia in 2003) in the fourth innings to win a Test.

"I thought we were on for another heist this morning when Jamie and Will were playing so well, but we can't do what we came here to do," Stokes said.

Mitchell Starc took the only wicket in the morning session - Jamie Smith running out of patience and caught by Pat Cummins for 60 - as England piled on 102 runs.

England's rally had narrowed the Ashes equation at lunch on the last day: Australia needed three wickets to clinch the old urn in Adelaide and England needed 126 runs to keep the five-match series alive.

Starc, who was voted player of the match in Australia's eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane, took the wickets of Will Jacks (47) - spectacularly caught by Marnus Labuschagne, who dived from slip in front of the wicketkeeper - and Jofra Archer (3).

That left Scott Boland to finish it off. He dismissed Josh Tongue (1) and left Brydon Carse stranded on 39 as England was all out for 352.